Friday, December 17, 2010

Slumgullion #41

CORRECTION: When I stated in last week’s Slumgullion that The Handcuffs would be opening for Cliff Johnson and The Happy Jacks at The Abbey Pub on January 1st, I’m pretty sure it was because I saw it listed that way in one of Chicago’s daily newspapers. Turns out that information is wrong. Thin Grin, which is comprised of members of the power pop group Green and The Slamming Watusis, (an offshoot of the punk band Bohemia), actually is the opening act. I apologize to all concerned.

Australian rockers The Church, whose shimmering hits “Under The Milky Way” and “Reptile” graced FM airwaves in the 1980s, will be performing the entire albums Untitled #23, Priest Aura, and Starfish when they come back to the States for the “Future Past Perfect” Tour. The band has dates scheduled in February for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York, and will be reissuing its back catalog on Second Motion Records.

The Britanicas have been in the holiday spirit lately. The power pop trio is offering a free mp3 of its version of “What Child Is This” on drummer-vocalist Joe Algeri’s freewheeling audio page. An acoustic take on “Last Christmas” that was very recently recorded by Algeri and bassist Herb Eimerman will get its premiere on Adam Waltemire’s Pop Garden Radio Show tomorrow night (December 18th) at 8PM Eastern Time on AM 1300 WMEL, as well as online.

Singer-songwriter Ellen Rosner and her new band The Bubbly Creek All Stars will be one of the performers on the bill at the Like A Hole In The Head benefit this coming Monday night (December 20th) at Martyrs on Lincoln Avenue. Proceeds will go to help Richard Lynch, who recently underwent surgery for a brain tumor, pay his medical bills. Other acts participating include Suzy Brack & The New Jack Lords, Lou Carlozo, and Ripley Caine, as well as a special one-night only reunion of Ulele. The benefit begins at 6:30PM.

The Crossroads Eric Clapton Guitar Festival 2010 DVD, which was recorded in Chicago last June, has become available just in time for holiday gift-giving. The concert included Clapton, Jeff Beck, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, John Mayer, Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood, and ZZ Top. Bill Murray also appeared, adding comic relief. The DVD includes some behind the scenes footage.

Another stocking stuffer this year could be Chicago photographer Linda Matlow’s newly revised edition of her Hardcover book. It’s a 48-page retrospective that includes photos of various rock musicians on and off stage dating back to 1979. Hardcover is available for $65 from Matlow’s website.

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Rolling Stone reports that a rare tape of Pink Floyd performing in concert in 1967 has been found in Sweden. This was back when Syd Barrett was a member. Writer Jem Aswad reports that it will be broadcast next May at the Golden Circle club in Stockholm.

Bon Mots, the melodic power pop band that includes Eric Chial of Penthouse Sweets, is playing at the Double Door tomorrow, December 18th, along with The Damnwells and The Darlings.

Corky Siegel and Megon McDonough will perform together at a Cocktail Christmas Party this Sunday, December 19th at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. The performance, which will be rendered in a cabaret setting, starts at 7:30PM.

Veteran Chicago power pop band The Webstirs will be part of a multi-act showcase at The Beat Kitchen on January 22nd. Other acts include The Noses (billed as a Love Kit reunion) Wally Dogger, This Magazine Is Haunted, and Cotton Pony.

The 2011 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees have been announced, and my choice, Donovan, did not make the cut. Still, the induction of the critically-acclaimed but defiantly non-commercial Dr. John and Tom Waits helps deflect the long-standing complaint that The Hall only honors best-selling artists.

Aliotta, Haynes & Jeremiah have recorded a Christmas version of their timeless FM radio hit “Lake Shore Drive” that’s available on their website. The trio also has a deal going where fans can get a customized version of the original “Lake Shore Drive” with their name inserted. I have a vague memory of Aliotta, Haynes & Jeremiah doing something similar with radio station call letters back in the day. But that was a long time ago, dearie.

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About This Blog

Broken Hearted Toy is an eclectic celebration of creativity, with over 2,000 posts since 2009.

It's based in Chicago but covers power pop, garage, cutting-edge, and 1960s rock from around the globe; along with occasional bits on art; literature; and theatre.

Top of the hill is a nice place to be at. - - - "Elevated Observations" by The Hollies.

Check out some of my previoius creative endeavors.

Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff was a weekly Internet show created by and starring Jeff Kelley. It mostly consisted of comedy bits and obscure 1960s garage rock set to vintage TV and film clips but also spotlighted entertainment events around Illinois.

My wife Pam and I created a handful of series (each episode was about two minutes long) that were shown on Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. They included Manchester Gallery (see description below); Old Days, which I hosted in the persona of a cranky old man named Fritz Willoughby; Roving Reporter, where I played the clueless title character; What's With Terry?, a performance arts program; and Hanging With The Hollies, a takeoff on Breakfast With The Beatles.

I've also worked with Kelley and Willy Deal on comedy clips, and with Kelley and David Metzger on films for the annual Nightmare on Chicago Street Halloween festival in Elgin.

I'm particularly proud of this 21-episode comedy series Pam and I created for Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. Each installment was a few minutes long, and featured me portraying Terrence, the curator of a pop culture museum.

I was a staff writer for this Chicago-based magazine from 1987 to 2015. The Illinois Entertainer has been covering rock music for over 40 years, and can be found in stores and entertainment venues, as well as in an online edition.

Chicago Art Machine was a web-based publishing company run by Editor-in-Chief, Kathryn Born, and Managing Editor, Robin Dluzen, that included Chicago Art Magazine, Chicago DIY Film,Chicago Performance And Trailers, and TINC. Most of my submissions appeared in Chicago DIY Film and Chicago Performance And Trailers, although I contributed to all the online Chicago Art Machine publications.

I was a writer and performer with this local comedy group from 1989 to 2009. Famous In The Future continues to perform in the Chicago area, and appeared at every one of the Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sinstheatre festivals that were held at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre. Since the closing of the Mary-Arrchie Theatre a few years ago, Famous In The Future has carried on the tradition by presenting Yippie Fest each year in August.

I'm an active member of SCBWI, (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and have written two Middle Grade fantasy novels. I've just finished a YA/paranormal novel, and also wrote a suspense/satiric novel that takes place amidst Chicago's alternative music scene in the mid-1980s.

Broken Hearted Toy

The blog title comes from the line, "I'm the brokenhearted toy you play with" in the song "I Can't Let Go" by The Hollies. One of the great original British Invasion bands, The Hollies continue to have an immense influence on power pop bands to this day, and have finally been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here is a video of "I Can't Let Go" being performed in 1966.